THE LAMENTATION of a NEW-BORN SOUL

J. Well, Ma’am, but Mrs. Go-Between told us if we did our best, the Lord would do the rest; and though she said Christ was the only Saviour, and that we could not be saved without him, yet she said it was in our power to get Christ, and to get salvation, and that we ought to do it immediately; for if we did not do our duty, and receive offered mercy, we must perish; but if we did our duty, and accepted offered mercy, we should be saved. For my own part, I thought that was very nice; and, some time or other, when I had less care on my hands, and more time to attend to it, I would embrace this offer of mercy, and be saved; but as it respects being born again, or regenerated, I really do not know what that means; but I think the prayer book says we are regenerated when we were baptized.

Vis. Mrs. Go-Between is another false wit ness; for the word of God says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Tim. 1:9.) This is the word of God; and to deny it, or to point out any other salvation, is to be a false witness; and what even the prayer book says about being regenerated at baptism is false; for the word of God says no such thing. It is an awful delusion to say an infant is regenerated at its baptism, as it is called; for all poor sinners who are regenerated are quickened by the Holy Ghost, and made alive to God, and so passed from death unto life. (Eph. 2:1; John 5:24.) Being thus quickened by the power of God the Holy Ghost, the eyes of their understanding are enlightened, (Eph. 1:18,) and they begin to see and feel their own vileness and God’s purity, and to cry for mercy; nor will anything satisfy them but a complete salvation in Christ. They are made new creatures in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor. 5:17.) They have new feelings, new thoughts, and new views, both of God and themselves. In a word, they are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that they should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10.) But do all christened (or baptized, as it is called) infants walk in good works as they grow up? No; but. the reverse. Therefore, be not deceived; you must either undergo a divine change, which the Lord alone can accomplish, or you must for ever perish. It requires the exceeding greatness and the working of God’s mighty power to regenerate a sinner, and give him true faith in Christ. (Eph. 1:19.)

J. I remember that Mrs. Speak-Truth told us that it became us in all things to act uprightly and honestly, to be prudent and industrious, and to do our duty in the various stations we might fill in life, and thus become useful members of civil society; but she said at the same time this was not the salvation of the soul, nor any part of it; for salvation was wholly of grace.

Vis. Then Mrs. Speak-Truth said that which was strictly true. Had you always acted uprightly, and as became you as the creatures of God, how much misery you would have escaped, and how much more useful you would have been in the world. But the eternal salvation of the soul is “not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:9.) A becoming conduct ought to be maintained with all care and diligence. Our own good, and the good of others, is connected with it. But however properly we may act, or however good our works may appear to be, either in our own eyes or those of others, or however useful we may be, as members of civil society, this is not Christ or salvation; for “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God.” (Rom. 3:20.) Publicans, harlots, and pharisees stand on a level here: “Ye must be born again, or you cannot see the kingdom of God.” This is said to all classes.

S. For my part, I do not understand it; but I really should not like to be as miserable as Mary is.

M. Indeed, Susan, I am miserable; but, then, the worst is to come, in the next world; for as it respects what Mrs. Plaister said about me being but a sinner, I really cannot find a place in my heart for the term, as connected with my sin and guilt; for I feel I am all vile and loathsome, an ungodly sinner from head to feet, and I really wonder how it is that God, as a just God, does not send me to hell; and O! those words, “The wrath of God,” torture me day and night. My cry is, when I dare cry at all, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” But I fear I ask too much, and that the Lord will spurn me and my cry from him in righteous indignation.

Vis. Mary, hear what the dear Lord says: “And shall not God avenge his own elect, that cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”

M. Yes, Ma’am, “his own elect,” but I am too wicked to be one of them.

Vis. No, no, Mary; God’s electing love, and the whole of his salvation, is all of grace: “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” And again: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved).” Thus you see it is all of rich mercy. Nevertheless, I am glad to find that you do not wish to have a false peace. God grant that you may never rest till the Lord gives you rest by faith in Christ. Real faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will bring rest and peace of mind. Hear what the dear Lord further says upon this subject: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life.”

M. It is a blessed passage to those that believe; but my sins are so great I cannot believe.

Vis. “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth from all sin;” “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Go as a poor guilty wretch, and, like the poor publican, cry to the Lord for mercy, and pray that he would be gracious to give you real faith in the Lord Jesus; for faith is God’s gift.

(To be continued)

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